Clip for forming simulated slipknot

ABSTRACT

A clip construction for simulating a slipknot in a necktie and of generally U-shaped configuration is provided which comprises an ornamental item of jewelry. The clip has opposed arms extending from a central curved portion and a central projection extending in the direction of the arms which projects into the interval between the arms.

Unite States Patent 1191 1111 3,831,201 u ny, it Aug. 27, M74

[54] CUP FOR FORIVMNG SiMULATED 2,195,373 3/1940 Snyder et al 2/148 SMPKNQT 3,222,684 12/1965 Kanter et al. 2/152 A [76] inventor: Camille .l. Emmy, in, 820 Lathrop Ave, River Forest, 111. 60305 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Scanlan, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Neuman, Williams, [22] F1led. Mar. 1, 1973 Anderson & Olson [2i] App]. No.: 337,095

[30] 1F oreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRAUE Oct. 20, 1972 ltaly 30766/72 A clip construction for simulating a slipknot in a necktie and of generally U-shaped configuration is pro [52] US. Cl. 2/150, 24/49 vided which comprises an ornamental item of jewelry. [51] int. Ci A4ld 25/02 The clip has opposed arms extending from a central [58] Field of Search 2/ 148, 150, 152; 24/49 Curved portion and a central projection extending in the direction of the arms which projects into the inter- [56] References Cited val between the arms.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/l930 Bruehl 2/150 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures CLIP FOR FORMING SIMULATED SLIPKNOT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a clip construction, and more particularly pertains to an ornamental item of wearing apparel which assists in simulating a slipknot in a four-in-hand tie.

The four-in-hand tie comprises a common item of male wearing apparel which is employed throughout a large segment of the civilized world. Male dress styles, which are relatively conservative and slow to change in comparison with styles for women, employ as a consistent item of dress, ties which afford an opportunity for new color and change to be injected into the everyday attire of the average man.

The same suit and shirt combination may assume varying attractive visual effects by changing the color and pattern of the neckties worn therewith.

One common style of ties is the four-in-hand, which is formed of bias-cut material having tapering ends of differing widths. The four-in-hand tie is normally formed about the neck in the front of the wearer into a slipknot; such knot enables the tie to be adjusted so as to fit precisely about the neck of the wearer. If formed properly, an attractive dimple or crease results in the front tie panel adjacent the knot which reflects the neatness of the wearer. The attractiveness of a fourin-hand tie is dependent upon the skill with which the slipknot is formed, for if such knot is not formed precisely, the resulting knot may be of an inappropriate size or the tie length improper and unattractive.

Also, since the common tie slipknot is formed by a series of folds in the course of the slipknot formation,

the constant creasing and tightening of the tie material which forms the slipknot soon results in an unattractive knot appearance. The constant flexing and increased wear of the tie material in the vicinity of knot formation, as well as rapid soiling of such tie material as a direc t result of the necessary manipulation thereof during knot formation, allows such ties to have only limited useful lives. The duration of time during which ties may be used and remain attractive is directly related to the number of slipknots formed in the tie material.

The prior art dislcoses the use of clip members for use with ties, kerchiefs and the like. There has never been provided, however, an ornamental clip which assists in forming a simulated slipknot resembling very closely a true slipknot, without the necessity of carrying out the usual and necessary knot-forming tie manipulatrons.

SUMMARY It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an ornamental item of dress jewelry which assists in the formation of a simulated tie slipknot.

It is another object of this invention to provide an ornamental clip construction which will form an attractive crease or dimple in the front panel of the tie material arranged, in part, into a simulated slipknot. The simulated knot is substantially identical to a well formed slipknot employing all of the usual folding steps.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a clip construction which, although facilitating the step of tie application and knot formation, provides a knot appearance very similar to that formed in the usual slipknot while reducing wear and tear on the tie material so as to greatly extend the useful life thereof.

The above and other objects of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed de scription When read in the light of the accompanying drawing and appended claims.

In one embodiment of this invention a clip of generally U-shaped configuration has opposed arms extending from a central curved clip portion. The arms approach each other as their distal ends are approached, so as to define a narrow neck or confining clip portion. A central projection extends from the clip central portion into the interval between the arms for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained in detail.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference will now be made to the drawing wherein:

F IG. 1 is a front view of a four-in-hand tie employing a clip made in accordance with this invention to simulate a slipknot;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tie of FIG. ll prior to receiving a clip made in accordance with this invention for purposes of simulating a slipknot;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view illustrating in detail the folds resulting in the tie condition of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the four-in-hand tie of FIGS. 1 and 2, having a slipknot formed therein as a result of normal knot formation;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a clip construction made pursuant to this invention in. which a central dimple-forming projection is cut from a central clip portion and bent relative thereto; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of clip construction made pursuant to this invention in which a central dimple-forming projection comprises a continuous bent clip portion integrally formed with the clip portions defining the central curved portion thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 4, a four-:in-hand tie it) having a slipknot 10a formed therein is illustrated. It will be noted that the exterior visible tie material of the knot 10a is arranged transversely to the direction in which the material of the front tie panel. 10b extends, as evidenced by the directions of the stripes depicted on the tie material. The well known slipknot 10a of FIG. 4 is formed by folding the front, larger tie panel 10b twice, to effect a double crossover," about the smaller tie panel while the tie is draped about the neck of the wearer. The larger panel is then pulled up behind the double crossover and threaded down between the crossovers to form a slipknot.

FIG. 3 illustrates in greater detail the four-in-hand tie 10 in a partially knotted condition which is desired for reception of a clip 12 made pursuant to this invention. The tie folds depicted in FIG. 3 comprise a single crossover of the larger tie panel 10b over smaller tie panel 11, whereafter the tie panel 10b is folded up and over the single tie panel crossover to form the tie arrangement of FIG. 2. If desired, a double crossover may be initially formed, as in forming the slipknot of FIG. 4, after which the larger panel is folded up and over in the manner of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 depicts the slip 12 of FIG. 1 in greater detail and illustrates a central projecting portion 14 which is cut from central curved slip portion 16 and bent relative thereto so as to extend between clip arm portions 18. If projection 14 is cut out precisely, the resulting recess, such as recess 17, may define an attractive design feature. An alternative construction may employ a discrete projection piece which is brazed or otherwise secured to the curved surface of the clip portion 16. Also, initials or other decorative insignia (not illustrated) may be secured over the recess 17 if desired. It will be seen from FIG. 4 that arms 18 approach each other as their distal ends are approached so as to define a constricted neck portion. The terminal ends of the clip arms 18 are preferably curved outwardly in opposite directions at 20 to facilitate clipping and gathering of the tie material during clip application over the tie material.

The dimensions of the clip '12 are desirably such so as to firmly gather the upper tie panel material adjacent the neck-encircling portions of the tie material so as to form a slipknot resemblance without the necessity of true knot formation, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

The projection 14 of clip 12 is not visible when clip 12 is used, see FIG. 1, but such projection forms a desirable dimple in the vicinity of the clip, as at 14a in F IG. 1. The dimple or crease 14a comprises an attractive feature which adds further to the realistic nature of the simulated slipknot which is formed.

The material of composition of the clip may vary greatly. It may be of precious metal and comprise a matching item of jewelry with cuff links and stick pin. The clips of this invention may be formed of a material which affords some resiliency or spring action between the arms 18. As an alternative to the use of converging clip arms to form a clip narrow neck portion, nonconverging arms may employ inwardly extending projections to form an equivalent neck portion to serve a clipping function.

FIG. 6 illustrates a modified clip construction 22 in which a dimple-forming projection 24 is formed of a bent clip portion formed integrally with central curved portions 16a of the clip and not cut from the width thereof as projection 14 in the clip 12 of FIG. 4. The clip 22 may thus be formed of thinner, finer material than clip 12.

Although of simple construction, the clip embodiments above described enable a simulated slipknot in a necktie to be formed with a minimum of manual effort and with such a reduction in the wear of the tie material that the life thereof will be greatly extended. Because of the tie folds employed with the provided clips, the tie front panel material is uniformly vertical, including the panel portion forming the simulated slipknot.

Accordingly, an attractive visual effect is inherent with use of the provided clips.

The clips of this invention may be readily adjusted into desired position by merely gathering the tie material between the clip arm portions, whereafter the clip is adjusted in the vertical plane into desired position. The clips of this invention may be readily removed by merely pulling the same outwardly from the ties. The abovedescribed action of the clips on the tie material results in a minimum of wear and creasing of such material in the vicinity of the slipknots, thereby greatly increasing the useful lives of the ties.

Although described for use in connection primarily with mens four-in-hand ties, the provided clips above described may be used with other tie types where the slipknot and dimple effects above referred to in detail are to be simulated.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a four-in-hand necktie having a front panel draped over a downwardly tapered partially completed slipknot, a clip construction for simulating a completed slipknot in said necktie, comprising a substantially U-shaped clip member having parallel edge portions and having opposed arms formed integrally with and extending from a central curved portion, portions of said arms approaching each other adjacent the arm terminal end limits so as to define an interval therebetween adjacent the arm terminal end limits which is narrower than the arm interval where joining the clip central curved portion, the terminal ends of said clip arms being rounded and curved outwardly away from the clip central curved portion in opposite directions, and a projection on said clip extending centrally from said central curved portion and extending into the central portion of the area encompassed by said clip curved portion and said arms extending therefrom; said projection being disposed in a plane parallel to and centrally located relative to said parallel edge portions; said clip encompassing said tie and draped front panel immediately below said partially completed slipknot with said central curved portion causing said front panel to lie smoothly against the lower portion of said partially completed knot producing a substantially smooth fabric surfaced simulated completed slipknot and said projection forming a centrally disposed dimple in the freely depending portion of said panel below said partially completed slipknot.

2. The clip construction of claim 1 in which said projection comprises a clip portion cut from the central clip curved portion which bent relative thereto.

l l =l= l 

1. In combination with a four-in-hand necktie having a front panel draped over a downwardly tapered partially completed slipknot, a clip construction for simulating a completed slipknot in said necktie, comprising a substantially U-shaped clip member having parallel edge portions and having opposed arms formed integrally with and extending from a central curved portion, portions of said arms approaching each other adjacent the arm terminal end limits so as to define an interval therebetween adjacent the arm terminal end limits which is narrower than the arm interval where joining the clip central curved portion, the terminal ends of said clip arms being rounded and curved outwardly away from the clip central curved portion in opposite directions, and a projection on said clip extending centrally from said central curved portion and extending into the central portion of the area encompassed by said clip curved portion and said arms extending therefrom; said projection being disposed in a plane Parallel to and centrally located relative to said parallel edge portions; said clip encompassing said tie and draped front panel immediately below said partially completed slipknot with said central curved portion causing said front panel to lie smoothly against the lower portion of said partially completed knot producing a substantially smooth fabric surfaced simulated completed slipknot and said projection forming a centrally disposed dimple in the freely depending portion of said panel below said partially completed slipknot.
 2. The clip construction of claim 1 in which said projection comprises a clip portion cut from the central clip curved portion which is bent relative thereto. 